Evaluation of Prospective Use of Existed CFRP-Strengthened Concrete Pipes in Forest Areas: Assessment of Their Structural Stability and Possible Re-Use

Rigas Giovannopoulos ,Konstantinos Katakalos

doi:10.3390/su13094947

Abstract

Forest traffic networks receive considerable structural stress from supporting heavy vehicles and machinery. Usually, in forest areas, artificial waterways are constructed on the side of the road and feature open constructions, so that solid materials blocking the waterways may be easily cleared. The use of closed bridges at vehicle crossing points, though infrequent, necessitates the use of installing closed water pipelines of large diameters. However, these closed, reinforced concrete (RC) water pipelines suffer structural damage over time. Here, we propose the strengthening of existed old concrete pipes using sheets of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) at increasing levels. The assessment of the results, which were conducted in ABAQUS, is done in light of the stress tests and suggests that the use of a simple, cost-effective method, such as the installation of composite materials, can potentially increase the structural strength of these pipes and allow their re-use for forest roads.

Highlights

We examined four loading conditions of an existed prestressed reinforced concrete (RC) water pipe with and without strengthening schemes with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets
In this paper we have tried to demonstrate a possible solution to a common problem in forest roads: how to structurally strengthen existed, prestressed concrete pipes meant to drain water, which, due to exposure to both high humidity levels and extreme external and internal pressures, suffer structural damage
We conducted a 3D numerical analysis taking measurements of both internal and external pressures and have come to the conclusion that bonding the external face of the pipe with CFRP sheets significantly improves the strength of the pipes, matching the results of Zhai et al (2020) [31] for prestressed concrete pipes with broken wires using CFRP

Summary

Introduction

Road and infrastructure construction is considered to be an essential part of forestry as forests become sustainable and profitable only if they are connected with a suitable road network, (see, for example, road network assessments in Europe [1], Turkey [2], the Himalayas [3], and the Amazon [4]). An integral part of forest roads are side road projects, which serve a functional and protective role, and compose, together with the road tarmac, the overall image of the forest road. Amongst the wide variety of side road projects are the technical works for the protection of water slopes along forest roads. A key feature is the drainage of water across forest roads in a manner that can guarantee its usability and road worthiness, as failure to provide adequate drainage along forest roads can have wide-ranging negative results [5]

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Conclusion